Stanley John Weyman

Born in Ludlow, Shropshire, on August 7, 1855, Stanley John Weyman was educated at Shrewsbury School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied modern history. He later qualified for the bar at the Inner Temple, but law did not prove to be his lasting career.

Weyman turned to fiction and became one of the most widely read writers of historical romance of his day. His strongest period came in the 1890s, when novels such as A Gentleman of France, The House of the Wolf, and Under the Red Robe won a large audience with their mix of adventure, court politics, and vivid period settings. Many of his best-known stories take place in France during the turmoil of the late 1500s and early 1600s.

Although his fame faded after his lifetime, Weyman was celebrated in his prime for fast-moving storytelling and a gift for dramatic atmosphere. He died on April 10, 1928, and is still remembered by readers who enjoy classic historical adventure.